Tag

Astrometry

All articles tagged with #astrometry

space1 month ago•76 min saved

Colossal exomoon candidate could redefine the meaning of 'moon'

Astronomers using the GRAVITY instrument on the VLT detected a small but measurable wobble in the gas giant HD 206893 B’s orbit, implying a massive unseen companion — an exomoon potentially about 40% of Jupiter’s mass (roughly nine Neptune masses) orbiting at ~0.2 AU with a ~9‑month period and a ~60° inclination. If confirmed, it would be among the most massive moons known and could force a reevaluation of what defines a moon, while guiding future exomoon searches via astrometry.

via Space|

#astrometry #astronomy #exomoons

science3 months ago•3 min saved

Potential First Discovery of an Exomoon Outside Our Solar System

Astronomers have identified a promising exomoon candidate orbiting the exoplanet HD 206893 B using a novel astrometry-based method, potentially marking the first confirmed exomoon, though further verification is needed. This new approach could revolutionize exomoon detection and enhance our understanding of moons beyond our solar system.

via Gizmodo|

#astrometry #astronomy #exomoons

science3 months ago•4 min saved

Euclid Mission Extends Fuel Life, Scientist Proposes Innovative Usage Plan

Scientists propose extending the Euclid space telescope's mission by using its remaining fuel to perform additional observations, which could enable the measurement of proper motion and parallax of faint objects, vastly enhancing our understanding of the universe beyond its original goals.

via Universe Today|

#astrometry #dark-universe #euclid

astronomy1 year ago•2 min saved

"Gaia Discovers New Tidal Stellar Stream"

Chinese astronomers have used data from ESA's Gaia satellite to discover a new tidal stellar stream in the northern hemisphere of the Milky Way, characterized by low metallicity and high energy. The stream, approximately 80 degrees long and 1.7 degrees wide, was found at a high Galactic latitude and is associated with the merging event Sequoia. Further studies, particularly spectroscopic observations, are needed to better understand this newly detected stellar stream and its properties, with implications for the potential discovery of more such structures in the galaxy.

via Phys.org|

#astrometry #astronomy #chinese-astronomers

space-science2 years ago•6 min saved

Gaia's Quest: Searching for Another Earth

The European Space Agency's Gaia mission, which aims to map over one billion stars in the Milky Way, has the potential to detect Earth-like planets up to 30 light-years away using astrometry. Gaia's astrometry method allows for more accurate determination of an exoplanet's orbital parameters and can detect planets far away from their host stars. If advanced astrometry precision is achieved, Gaia could detect the four giant planets in our solar system within 100 years. Additionally, over 300 stars within ten parsecs from our solar system could potentially detect Earth if they achieve microarcsecond accuracy. The possibility of extraterrestrial intelligences (ETIs) using similar technology to Gaia raises the question of whether they could discover planets in our solar system, including Earth.

via Universe Today|

#astrometry #earth-like-planets #etis

astronomy2 years ago•6 min saved

"Newly Discovered Exoplanet Resembles a Younger Version of Jupiter"

Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin have used astrometry to directly capture images of AF Lep b, one of the lowest-mass planets ever observed. This groundbreaking technique could revolutionize the discovery of extrasolar planets that are challenging to detect due to their distance, mass, or orientation relative to Earth. AF Lep b is approximately three times the mass of Jupiter and orbits a young Sun-like star about 87.5 light-years away. The combination of direct imaging and astrometry allows for the identification of previously difficult-to-detect extrasolar planets and enables the direct measurement of a planet's mass. The researchers plan to further study AF Lep b using advanced telescopes.

via The Jerusalem Post|

#af-lep-b #astrometry #astronomy

astronomy2 years ago•5 min saved

"Revolutionary Exoplanet Discoveries: Young Jupiter's Sibling and Eclipsing Cataclysmic Variable System Unveiled"

Astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory have successfully captured direct images of AF Lep b, one of the lowest-mass planets, using the astrometry technique. This marks the first time astrometry has been used to detect a giant planet orbiting a young Sun-like star. AF Lep b is approximately three times the mass of Jupiter and orbits a young star about 87.5 light-years away. This breakthrough could revolutionize the discovery of extrasolar planets that are challenging to detect due to their distance, mass, or orientation relative to Earth.

via SciTechDaily|

#af-lep-b #astrometry #astronomy

astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

"Stunning Discovery: Young Planet Mirrors Jupiter's Features"

Astronomers have discovered a young exoplanet, AF Lep b, using the astrometry method, which involves measuring tiny changes in a star's position caused by the gravitational tugs of an orbiting planet. This is the first time astrometry has been used to find a giant planet orbiting a young star similar to the Sun. The team also used direct imaging to confirm the planet's existence and determine its mass, distance from its star, and orbital eccentricity. Further observations and studies of AF Lep b will be conducted using advanced telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope.

via Universe Today|

#af-lep-b #astrometry #astronomy

astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

'Jupiter's Younger Sibling' Marks Start of Exoplanet Discovery Era

Astronomers using the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii have directly captured images of AF Lep b, one of the lowest-mass planets ever discovered. The planet is about three times the mass of Jupiter and orbits a young sun-like star about 87.5 light-years away. The discovery was made using a technique called astrometry, which measures the subtle movements of a host star over many years to help astronomers determine whether hard-to-see orbiting companions, including planets, are gravitationally tugging at it. This new method of combining direct imaging with astrometry could help astronomers find extrasolar planets that were hard to find before with other methods.

via Phys.org|

#af-lep-b #astrometry #astronomy

science-and-exploration2 years ago•4 min saved

New exoplanet discovered using precision astrometry.

Data from ESA's Gaia spacecraft has allowed astronomers to image a massive exoplanet using Japan's Subaru Telescope, marking the first confirmed exoplanet found by Gaia's ability to sense the gravitational tug or 'wobble' a planet induces on its star. This technique points the way to the future of direct exoplanet imaging, and the success of finding this planet provides a new path forward to discovering more exoplanets and characterizing them in a more holistic way than before.

via European Space Agency|

#astrometry #direct-imaging #exoplanet